My name is Carlo DeVito, and I am the author of East Coast Wineries: A Complete Guide from Maine to Virginia published by Rutgers University Press. This blog is dedicated to primarily east coast wines and wineries including Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia. It will also feature products and information from other regions.

Wednesday, April 01, 2015

Knapp Barrel Reserve Chardonnay 2013 (NY)

Admittedly, I have not really had a lot of Knapp wines over the last few years, so I was intrigued when I saw a bottle on a table at the Eastern Wineries Exposition 2015 in Syracuse just a few weeks ago. Knapp is close to Seneca Falls, and has been a popular winery from its inception in 1984. In the year 2000, the winery was sold to current owners Gene Pierce and Scott Welliver.

So, as I was saying, when I saw the bottle, I happily scooped it up and gave it a tug. The Knapp Barrel Reserve Chardonnay 2013 blossoms with aromas of Granny Smith apples and fresh Bosc pear, melon and some tropical fruits. There's very solid acidity which means the fruit stays with you a nice, long time. The toasted oak delivers a nice softness and butterscotch touch to the finish. But not enough to overwhelm the wine. Very nicely balanced. Layers of flavors. A lovely, barrel aged Chardonnay with a nice, zesty bounce in its step.

I'll have to try more of their recent vintages next time I get the opportunity!

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About Me

Carlo DeVito is a long time wine lover, and author of books and magazine articles. He is the author of Wineries of the East Coast. He has traveled to wine regions in California, Canada, up and down the east coast, France, Spain and Chile. He has been a published executive for more than 20 years. He shepherded the wine book program of Wine Spectator as well as worked with Kevin Zraly, Oz Clarke, Matt Kramer, Tom Stevenson, Evan Dawson, Greg Moore, Howard Goldberg, and many other wine writers. He has also published Salvatore Calabrese, Jim Meehan, Clay Risen, and Paul Knorr.
Mr. DeVito is the inventor of the mini-kit which has sold more than 100,000,000 copies world wide. He has also publisher such writers as Stephen Hawking, E. O Wilson, Philip Caputo, Gilbert King, James McPherson, John and Mary Gribbin, Thomas Hoving, David Margolick, Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr., John Edgar Wideman, Stanley Crouch, Dan Rather, Dee Brown, Susie Bright, and Eleanor Clift.
He is also the owner of Hudson-Chatham Winery, co-founder of the Hudson Berkshire Beverage Trail, and president of the Hudson Valley Wine Country.
https://carlodevito.wordpress.com/